The students will be given an overview of the formation and development of the Earth. Focus will be laid on the comprehension of the development of the Earth's crust in space and time.

The students will acquire basic concepts in geology which explain the processes of rock formation in the past and today.

Knowledge of rock genesis allows a classification in three main rock types: magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks which differ in their respective material properties. An insight into the tectonics at divergent and convergent plate boundaries should lead to better understanding of the distribution of seismic activities.

At the end of the course the students recognise plate tectonics as the driving force of rock formation in general and of orogenic processes in particular.

basic concepts in geology: from uniformitarianism to plate tectonics;

structure of the Earth's crust, types of orogenic processes, structure of th Earth;

history of the Earth (dating methods);

genesis of rock types: magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.

The course is held in the first half of semester with a written exam of one hour in December. Procedure: questions concerning all topics, to be answered in note form, at least two comprehension questions, interpretation of a geological map or a profile.